Muddy fields, worn patches and “keep off the grass” days take a lot of outdoor play off the timetable. Artificial grass turns those spaces into soft, green areas children can use all year round. It looks freshly cut every day, never needs mowing, and costs far less to look after than real grass.
Setter Play has been designing and building play spaces for schools, nurseries, parish councils and local authorities since 1997. We use a dedicated range of artificial grass developed specifically for playgrounds.
Why choose artificial grass?
Usable all year round. No mud, no puddles and no closing the field after rain. The free-draining backing lets water pass straight through, so children can get back outside quickly.
Soft and safe. The dense, cushioned pile is comfortable for running, rolling and sitting. With a shock pad underneath, it can also be used safely beneath play equipment.
Always looks its best. You get a lush, natural green lawn in every season, with no bare patches by the end of summer term.
Virtually maintenance-free. No mowing, watering, weeding, feeding or reseeding. An occasional brush keeps the pile upright and looking fresh.
Saves money over time. It cuts out the recurring costs of grounds maintenance, and many schools find the savings pay back their investment within a few years.
No chemicals needed. There’s no need for fertilisers, weedkillers or pesticides on areas where children play.
Kinder to hay fever sufferers. Artificial grass doesn’t produce grass pollen, one of the most common hay fever triggers.
More sustainable. It needs no watering, and the backing is 100% recyclable at the end of its life.
Safe under play equipment
Wherever children climb, swing or slide, a cushioning shock pad is laid beneath the grass. Its thickness is chosen to suit the critical fall height of your equipment, so the area gives the right level of protection while still looking like a natural lawn. Because we design and install the equipment too, fall zones and surfacing are planned together from the start.
Quality you can rely on
- 5-year guarantee on the turf
- SuperFlow backing that is 100% recyclable and gives superior drainage
- Developed specifically for playgrounds, not adapted from garden lawn products
- Free site survey with expert advice on the right grass, shock pad and layout for your space
How it’s installed
Most installations start by levelling the ground and laying a compacted stone base, topped with a weed membrane. A shock pad goes down wherever fall protection is needed. The grass is then laid, joined, secured at the edges and brushed to finish. Where an existing surface is suitable, artificial grass can sometimes be laid over tarmac or concrete with a shock pad, which helps reduce groundwork costs.
Where it works
- Nursery and EYFS outdoor areas
- Replacing worn, muddy grass areas
- Softening tarmac playgrounds
- Under play equipment, with a shock pad
- Grassy mounds, tunnels and play landscapes
- Outdoor classrooms, story and reading areas
- Sensory and quiet gardens
Artificial grass, wetpour or rubber mulch?
Each surface suits different spaces, and many play areas combine two or three.
- Artificial grass is ideal for open, natural-looking areas and general play.
- Wetpour is best for heavy-use zones, bright colours, games and educational markings.
- Rubber mulch gives a natural bark look and can often be laid straight onto grass.
We’ll recommend the right mix during your free site survey.
Why Setter Play?
We’re a family-run business based in Bedfordshire, and we design, manufacture and install our own play equipment. That means your surfacing and equipment are designed as one complete space rather than pieced together.
We work with schools, nurseries, parish councils and local authorities across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Essex and London.
Book your free site survey. We’ll visit, assess your space and recommend the right surface, with no obligation. Get in touch today.
